TheLeadDog (101), Kent, Washington, USA Oct 16, 2006 To me this is a Brown Ale as it looks and tastes that way. Great rich flavor of chocolate, carmel, toffee and roasted malt. Thick rich head that lasts a long time. I look forward to anything Deschutes puts out, seasonal or otherwise. benpickens (129), Nashville, Tennessee, USA Oct 14, 2006 Dark amber with a long lasting creamy light brown head and light carb. Smells great: cola, roots, tobacoo, caramel. Malty taste with a late hop dryness in the finish. asteele8 (270), Mukilteo, Washington, USA Oct 14, 2006 Bottle. My first seasonal winter beer I have gotten to try in the PNW. I am looking forward to all the different ones from the PNW. Pours a dark amber color (mostly red making it dark) with a nice light tan head on top. Aroma is malt backbone through and through. Caramel, toffee, holiday spices, gingerbread, and vanilla hit the nose. Flavor is hints of chocolate, caramel, toffee, and gingerbread. Hops come in nicely at the end of the taste to give a nice bite. A good winter ale to start off with. kenb (1100), Oregon, USA Oct 5, 2006 Updated: Nov 2, 20072006, 12oz bottle locally via Roth’s. Pours a dark brown with red tint. Large chunky head. Strong aroma of caramel, toffee, and plums with some alcohol underneath.Tastes quite a bit different though. Starts out with some vanilla/toffee and finishes hot, somewhat acidic, and spicey/peppery. A hoppy aftertaste. Not at all what i expected.Not bad, just nothing like it smells like, lol. i think this is maybe too young and would do well cellared for 6+ months? MIBRomeo (1962), Wisconsin, USA Oct 3, 2006 dark amber pour thick tan well laced head. Interesting hop character reminiscent of cloves well hopped. Palate is average. Flavor is an odd mix of malts some carmels some "holiday spices" & a warm swallow. Decent. radiomgb (1923), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Sep 15, 2006 Mahogany in colour, rich creamy beige coloured head, great lacing. The aroma is of light alcohol, caramel and cookie malts, gingerbread, light sweetness. The flavour is mildly bitter, more gingerbread, caramel malts, quite sweet. Chalky bitter mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes with a chocolate powder bitterness. Not bad but doesn’t hold up as well as the Fullers Vintage Ales do.
<font size=-2> 355ml bottle obtained in a trade with <a
href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=10361 target=blank>DarkElf, thanks Stephen. Best Before 12/25/04.</font>
adamnfineman (53), Springfield, Oregon, USA Aug 24, 2006 Not a bad beer, though I was expecting more after the hype my friends were giving this beer. A decent seasonal beer, though. blackmurder (164), sadf, Hawaii, USA Jul 25, 2006 Bought a six pack a while back. Pours a deep amberish red brown color. Pretty hoppy on the back of the tongue with a warm alcohol palate. I like this beer.
Tastes sweet and brisk.
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